Jet deflecting device, especially intended for discharge nozzles or propulsion units



H. L. P. MEULIEN ETI'AL July 2, 1957 2,797,547

JET DEFLECTING DEVICE, ESPECIALLY INTENDED FOR DISCHARGE NOZZLES 0RPROPULSION UNITS Filed Nov. 28, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS HENRI-Pmsvueu Loula If. IBnucER HENRI RINETTI vmw ATTORNEYS u y 1957 H L. P.MIEULIEN 'ETAL 7,547

7 JET LEFLEC'iING DEVICE, ESPECIALLY INTENDED FOR DISCHARGE NOZZLES ORPROPULSION UNITS Filed Nov. 28, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT RS HENRILRMEULIEN v Lows lBnuaaR B HENm TURINETTI W M, M m

ATTORNEYS July 2, 1957 H. P. MEULIEN ETAL. 2,797,547

JET DEFLECTING DEVICE, ESPECIALLY INTENDED FOR DISCHARGE NOZZLES ORPROPULSION UNITS Filed Nov. 28, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS HENRlLPMEuuEN Lows llBAuaER HENRI TURINETTI RTTQRNEYS y 1957 H. L. P. MEULIENETAL 2,797,547

JET DEFLECTING DEVICE, ESPECIALLY INTENDED FOR DISCHARGE NOZZLES ORPROPULSION UNITS Filed Nov. 28, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS HENRILP. Msuueu Lou|S J: .B iusER 3y Hsum Tumuern WM, Mma/W ATTORNEYS y 1957H. L. P. MEULIEN ETA]. 2,797,547

JET DEFLECTING DEVICE, ESPECIALLY INTENDED FOR DISCHARGE NOZZLES ORPROPULSION UNITS Filed Nov. 28, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS HENR| LPMEULIEN Louus FIB/ween ENR\ TuRmETn Wm M, WWW

ATT RNEYS y l957 H. L. P. MEULIEN ETAL 2,797,547

JET DEFLECTING DEVICE, ESPECIALLY INTENDED FOR DISCHARGE NOZZLES QRPROPULSION UNITS Filed Nov. 28, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS HENRILP. Menus LOUIS 3', BnusER HENRI TURINETTI ATromEs s United StatesPatent flice 2,797,547 Patented July 2, 1957 JET DEFLECTING DEVICE,ESPECIALLY IN- TENDED FOR DISCHARGE 'NOZZLES OR PROPULSION UNITS HenriL. P. Meulien, Courbevoie, Louis J. Banger, Vanves, and Henri Turinetti,Paris, France, assignors to Societe Nationale dEtude et de Constructionde Moteurs dAviation, Paris, France, a French company ApplicationNovember 28, 1955, Serial No. 549,442

Claims priority, application France November 29, 1954' 13 Claims. (Cl.60-35.54)

In order momentarily to deflect the jet discharged from a reactionpropulsion unit from its normal direction of flow, with a view tobraking the movement of the moving body propelled or to modify thedirection of the thrust, it has already been proposed to use grids ofblades or deflecting fins which are placed around the normal trajectoryof the jet, generally on the downstream side of the discharge nozzle,and which come into action when the jet is subjected to a system offorces which tend to cause it to deviate from its normal direction.

These deflecting blades may however, have the drawback of increasing thedrag outside the periods of de: fleet-ion, by their action on the air.whichj'flows round thepropulsion unit, andalso of reducing thethrustproduced by the said unit by scraping? the peripheral streams of thejet.

Thedevice which forms the object of the present: invention enables thisdrawback to be overcome'and also enables a smooth surface to bepresented both to the jet and to the external air flow during thenon-deflecting periods.

In accordance with the invention, the blades are: combined with one or anumber of cowlings adapted to mask the blades during non-deflectionperiods and, on' the other hand, to uncover them when it is desired todeflect the jet, by a relative movement of the blades with respect tothe cowling, or of the blades and of the cowling with respect to thefixed parts of the exhaust nozzle, this rota tional movement beingcarried out about one or aplurality of axes substantially parallel tothat of the discharge nozzle. i

The description which follows below with reference to the attacheddrawings (which are given by way of example only and not in any sense byway 'oflimitation), will make it quite clear how the invention may becarried into effect, the special features which are brought out, eitherin the text or in the drawings, being understood toform a part of thesaid invention.

Figs. 1 to 4 relate to a first form of embodiment of the invention andrepresent:

In Fig. l, a perspective view of the rear portion of the dischargenozzle with the blades withdrawn to the non-operative position.

In Fig. 2, a similar view with the blades in the defleeting position.

In Fig. 3, a rear view of the discharge nozzle with the bladeswithdrawn,the cowlings being cut through a plane at right angles to the axis ofthe discharge nozzlei In Fig. 4, a view in perspective of the mechanismby which the displacement of the blades is effected. Figs. 5 to 7 relateto a second form of embodiment of the invention, Fig. 5 showing inperspective thelrear portion of the discharge nozzle with the bladesretracted, Fig. 6 beinga similar view with the blades inthe operativeposition, and Fig. 7 being a view to a larger cale of a movable cowling.

Figs. 8 and 9 relate to a third form of embodiment which is applicableto the case of two reaction units symmetrically mountedon each side ofthe fuselage of an aircraft, Fig. 8 showing a perspective view of thedis charge-nozzle of one. of these reactors with the blades withdrawn,Fig. 9 beinga transverse-cross-section through two laterally-displacedplanes of the reactors and of the fuselage.

Figs. 10 to 12 illustrate a fourth form of embodiment in which theblades are in a number of parts which are individually retractable;one-half of Fig. 10 is an end view of the discharge nozzle, and theother half is a view in cross-section through a plane located on theupstream side; one-half of Fig. 11 is a view in axial cross-section ofthe discharge-nozzle, while the other half is a view in lateralprojection; Fig. 12 shows a detail of a rotating element to a largerscale.

Figs.'l3 and 14 illustrate a fifth form of embodiment of theinvention;--Fig. 13 is a cross-section through a transverse plane andshowing in its lower half the members placed in the deflecting position,whilst in, its upper half,-the said members are in the position whichcorresponds to the normal flow of the jet; Fig. 14 is a cross sectionthrough an axial plane.

In the form of embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the discharge nozzle isextended, both internally and externally by two cowling members 2-3which include incross-section (see Fig. 3) two opposite angles at at thecentre, so that the solid formed by the dischargenozzle and by thecowling members comprises two lateral slots which extend over theopposite angles [3, subtended at the centre. In the example shown in thedrawing, the angles a are a little greater than and the angles 5 areslightly smaller. In addition, the cowlings have sections in the form ofcircular arcs centered on the axis of the discharge-nozzle. With thesecowlings are adapted to co-operate four segments of a grid of blades 2a,2b, 3a, 3b, which each extend over an angle at the centre equal toone-half of ,3. The grids 2a and 3a are fixed by means of arms 4a, 4'a,parallel to the axis of the discharge-nozzle to a ring 5a which isconcentric to the discharge-nozzle. In the same way, the grids 2l13b arefixed by means of arms 4b, 4'17 to a ring 5b concentric with thedischarge-nozzle. The two rings are arranged in the interior of thecowling 1 of the discharge-nozzle so as to be able to rotate in oppositedirections. The drawing shows these rings pro vided with rack teeth 6a6bwith which engage pinions 7a7b, the spindles of which rotate in fixedbearings and are coupled to an operating device (not shown).

Starting from the position of Figs. 2 and 4, in which the grids fill theslots formed between the cowlings 2 and 3 in order to carry out thedeflection ofthe jet, it will be understood that if the ring 5a isrotated through an angle equal to one-half of ,8 in the direction of thearrow f and the ring 5b through an equal angle in the direction of thearrow f the segments of-blades 2a.-2b will pass into the cowling 2(Figs. 1 and 3), whilst the segments 3a3b will disappear into thecowling 3. The casing of the discharge-nozzle is of course provided withtwo opposite slots 8-9 in the form of circular arcs, so as to permit thepassage of the arms 4a, 4a, 4b, 4'12, which are of flat shape at thatpoint. The guiding of the rotation of the rings 5a5b may be effected inany suitable manner. The drawing shows a fixed circular rod 10'which canbe mounted in the casing of the discharge-nozzle and may be attached tothis casing-in any appropriate manner, for example at twodiametricallyopposite points such as 11. This rod serves as a rollingrail for rollers 12 which are fitted with side-plates 13 provided on thearms 4a, 4a, 4b, 4'b. The number of guides of this kind may,furthermore, be increased as required.

At the points at which the blades are attached to them, the arms 4a, 4a,417', 4'1), have a flat shape located in radial planes and having asurface which corresponds to the internal section of the cowlings 2 and3. In this way, the arms 4a, 4'b, close the cowlings 2-3 when the bladesare retracted, whilst they come together, one flat on the other, whenthe blades are in the deflecting position. In the same way, the arms 4a,4b, which pass into the cowlings when the blades are retracted, closethe said cowlings when the blades are in the deflection position. Intheexample shown in the drawing, it has been assumed that thecommencement of the deflection is obtained by means of an eclipsablediametral obstacle 17 which acts in the bisecting plane of the angles asubtended by the cowlings. This obstacle may be formed, for example, bymeans of a blade of aerofoil section pivotally mounted at itsextremities with respect to the discharge-nozzle. It may thus take upeither the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in which the profile of thesaid blade is in the direction of flow'of the jet and thus otfers only avery small resistance to the passage of the jet, or the position atright angles to that referred to, in which this blade intercepts thestreams of the jet and divides these into two parts which arerespectively deflected towards the two slots 8. In the latter case, thestreams of the jet thus deflected come in contact with the grids ofblades placed in these slots, and these blades give the final desireddeflection to the two halves of the jet. In a system of this kind, it isimportant to fill the wake-zone which forms on the downstream side ofthe obstacle, in order to avoid the tendency of the two halves of thejet to become re-attached to each other. For this purpose, the externaland internal walls of the cowlings 2.-3 are pierced with slots 15--16 inthe plane of the obstacle 17. When the blades are retracted into thecowlings, these slots are closed by means of plates 14a-14bfixedrespectively on the arms ta-4b. On the other hand, these slots areopen when the blades are in their operative position. The consequence ofthis in an embodiment of this kind is that the grids of blades eachextend over an angle less than one-half of a, and that [3, which isequal to the sum of the angles subtended by two adjacent grids ofblades, is itself smaller than a.

It is however possible to envisage other arrangements which enable theuseful angle 5 of the slots, through which the parts of the deflectedjet are discharged, to be increased. For example, the blades of twogrids such as 2a2b which are retracted into the same cowling, may bearranged so as to fit in between each other in the retracted position,which would enable a to be reduced and ,8 to be increased. In this case,the slots -16 supplying the wake-zones may have smaller longitudinaldimensions so as only to be associated with the zone located immediatelyon the downstream side of the obstacle, before the beginning of thegrids of blades.

The device is further applicable to deflecting arrangements having othermethods of operation, for example to those in which the deflection ofthe jet is initiated by a centrifugal zone created in the jet inside thedischargenozzle before the outlet of this nozzle, by means of inclinableblades or auxiliary jets forming fluid blades.

In the alternative form shown in Figs. 5 to 7, the grids of blades19-20, which occupy two opposite segments on the downstream side of theoutlet orifice of the discharge-nozzle are fixed, whilst the cowlingsare rotatably movable about the axis of the discharge-nozzle. Thecowling of each grid is formed of two halves 19a--19b, 20a20b, which mayeither come one against the other (see Fig. 5) thus concealing theblades, or may be separated (see Fig. 6) to uncover the blades. Thesecowl- 4 ing halves may be terminated by oblique edges 19a, 20a, so as toform in the plane of the deflecting obstacle 17, slots 2122 which enablethe wake-zone of the obstacle to be filled when the blades are exposed(see Fig. 6). Fig. 7 shows the method of guiding of each of the parts ofthe cowling, by means of a circular rail 23 against which are appliedrollers 24 fixed on a flat extension 25 of the cowling which passes intothe discharge-nozzle through a circular slot 26. The movement of thecowling halves may be obtained by means of a mechanical arrangementsimilar to that described with reference to Fig. 4.

The cowlings may not be symmetrical, depending on the cases to whichthey are applied. A single cowling may also be provided which onlyextends over a portion of the periphery of the discharge-nozzle when thedeflection of the jet is to be effected only to one side.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment of this kind applied to anaircraft which is provided with two reactors symmetrically mounted withrespect to the fuselage.

In these figures, there is seen at 30 the fuselage and at 31 and 32 thecasings of the two reactors arranged at the roots of the wings 33. Thedischarge-nozzle of each reactor is extended along side the fuselage bya cowling 34 having a semi-cylindrical cross-section. Each of thesecowlings may receive two segments of grids of blades 35-36, each ofwhich extends over an arc of The left-hand side of Fig. 9 shows thesegrids retracted into the cowling. By means of a mechanism similar tothat described with reference to Fig. 4, the grids may be withdrawn fromthe cowling so as to be placed in close contact opposite to the cowlingand thus to ensure the deflection of the jet away from the fuselage. Ina case of this kind, the deflecting obstacle 37-38 acts on the wall ofthe discharge-nozzle. In the example shown, it is constituted by a platewhich is movable at right-angles to the axis of the correspondingdischarge-nozzle, and may either be withdrawn into a slot 39 formed inthe wall of this nozzle or be caused to project from this wall, as shownin dotted lines at 40 in the right-hand portion of Fig. 9. In theexample considered, the movements of the obstacles 3738 are effectedeonjointly by crank-arms 41-42 coupled to the extremities of a doublearm 43 carried on a shaft 44 which can be rotated by the pilot.

The form of embodiment shown in Figs. 10 to 12 differs from the previousforms in that the grid of blades is sub-divided into a fairly largenumber of elements which can rotate individually, in the same way as themoving part of a tap, about axes 46 parallel to the axis of thedischarge-nozzle and distributed around the discharge-nozzle. Fig. 12shows one of these elements in perspective, comprising the portions ofblades 47, the lateral cylindrical cheeks 48, between whichthe parts ofblades are held, and the pivots 46a which constitute the axis ofrotation of the element. Each element thus constituted is introducedinto a cylindrical housing in the wall of the discharge-nozzle andcommunicate with the interior of the nozzle by means of ports 49, andwith the exterior by ports 50. In the upper half of Fig. 10, the variouselements occupy the angular position which corresponds to thedeflection, for which position the fluid may pass out of thedischarge-nozzle by passing through the ports 49, the spaces between thedeflecting blades 47 and the external ports 50. The lower part of Fig.10, on the other hand, shows the said elements rotated through 90 inorder to close the wall of the discharge-nozzle. The position of thedeflecting obstacle 17, shown on the left-hand side of Fig. 10,corresponds to the position of the elements shown in the upper left-handquarter of the said figure (deflection), whilst the position of theobstacle shown on the right-hand side of the figure corresponds to theposition of the elements shown on the bottom left-hand side of thisfigure. The rotation of the various elements may be synchronised by anyappropriate means, for example by providing one of the pivots 46a of theelements with a pinion 551 and by causing all the pinions 51 to engagewith a common toothed ring 52, the rotation of which about the axis ofthe discharge-nozzle is controlled by the pilot.

In the alternative form shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the grid of blades 55,which is extended around the whole periphery of the discharge-nozzle, isfixed. The grid is combined with an interior cowling and an exteriorcowling, each constituted by a series of shutters 56-57 which arearranged to pivot about axes aparallel to that of the discharge-nozzle.To this end, the shutters are provided with pivots 58-59 and withcrank-arms 60 and 61 which enable them to be actuated by a commoncontrol. The upper halves of Figs. 13 and 14 show the shutters closed tocover the grid of blades (the jet passing out without deflection),whilst the lower halves of the same figure show the shutters open so asto expose the grid of blades.

It will be seen from the drawing that the moving shutters are allparallel to each other (and at right-angles to the axis of the obstacle)when they uncover the blades, during a deflection period. They thueflect a guiding action on the deflected jet which prevents the streamsof this jet from diverging too rapidly, by virtue of which the deflectedjet remains suificiently compact and tight to develop a substantialthrust, which may be either negative (braking or counter-thrust), orapplied in any particular direction with respect to the axis of thenormal jet.

In all the foregoing forms of embodiment, there is an advantage inproviding a coupling between the control of the device which initiatesthe deflection, for example a movable obstacle, and that of the movingblades or of the cowlings, so that the blades are placed in the activeposition (exposed by means of the cowling) at the same time as thedeflection is commenced, or before. For example, there may be provided asingle control lever which acts on the cowlings or on the moving bladesin the first part of its travel, and on the device which initiates thedeflection in the second part of its travel.

In the form of embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, there may, for example,be provided a pinion 75 mounted on one of the pivots 76 of the pivotingobstacle 17 and engaging with one of the toothed racks 6a6b throughgears 77 and 78, the said pinion having a radius suitably chosen inorder that the obstacle pivots through 90 in passing from its inactiveto its active position or vice versa, during the movement of the movableblades.

In the case of an obstacle formed by a fluid jet, the movement of themoving blades or moving cowlings may also be used to act on the supplyvalve of the fluid jet.

It will furthermore be understood that modifications may be made to theforms of embdiment which have just been described, in particular 'by thesubstitution of equivalent technical means, without thereby departingfrom the spirit or from the scope of the present invention.

What We claim is:

1. A jet-deflection device for reaction discharge-nozzles, comprising atleast one grid of deflecting blades which are placed outside the normalpath of the jet, at least one cowling adapted to cover the said bladesduring nondeflection periods and to uncover the said blades duringdeflection periods by a relative movement of rotation of the blades withrespect to the said cowling, the said movement of rotation beingeffected about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of thedischarge-nozzle.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cowling is fixed andhas the form of a part of a body of revolution about the axis of thedischarge-nozzle, in extension to the said discharge-nozzle, saidcowling being adapted to receive the grid of blades arranged in suchmanner as to rotate about the axis of revolution so as to pass into thesaid cowling or to project therefrom.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the grid of blades isprovided with a plate arranged in a radial plane to close the cowlingwhen the said blades are retracted.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the deflection isinitiated by a movable obstacle and the cowling is provided, on thedownstream side of the said obstacle, with ports intendeed to provide apassage for the exterior air to fill up the wake-zone on the downstreamside of the said obstacle.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein two cowlings areprovided in diametrically-opposite positions and co-operate with partsof grids of moving blades which are adapted, by movements of rotation inopposite directions, to come into the active position in the spacesbetween the said cowlings or to be retracted inside the said cowlings.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said grids of bladesare fixed and arranged as parts of a body of revolution about the axisof the said dischargenozzle, the said grids being combined with hollowcowlings arranged to rotate about the axis of the dischargenozzle so asto cover or uncover the said grids.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the edges of the saidmovable cowlings have a shape adapted to form between the cowlings whenthey uncover the said grids of blades, slots which permit of the passageof air.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the saidcowlings are located in such manner as to shield adjacent parts by onlypermitting deflection of the jet away from the said parts.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8, applicable to an aircraftprovided with two propulsion units mounted on each side of the fuselage,wherein the said cowlings extend the discharge-nozzle along the side ofthe fuselage in such manner that the deflection is effected towards theopposite side.

10. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said deflectingblades are divided into portions carried by separate elements which areadapted to rotate in cylindrical housings formed in the extremity of thedischarge-nozzle and communicating by means of ports with the interiorand the exterior of the said discharge-nozzle, the rotation of the saidelements being conjugated with each other.

11. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the blades are fixedand are combined with shutters adapted to enclose them inside andoutside the discharge-nozzle, the said shutters being pivotally mountedabout axes parallel to the axis of the said discharge-nozzle.

12. A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the said shutters arearranged so as to take up parallel positions directed in the sense ofthe deflection when they uncover the said blades, thereby reducing thedivergence of the streams of the deflected jet.

13. A device in accordance with claim 1, comprising a coupling devicebetween the control of the member which initiates the deflection andthat of the moving blades or of the moving cowling, in such manner thatthe said blades are placed in the active position at least when thedeflection is initiated.

No references cited.

